The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-05
MUSIC AND MUSCLE.
A Full Development of the Voice Impossible
in n Tightly Laced Body.

A Full Developments of the Voice Impossible
in n Tighfly-Laced Body.
Madame Clara Brin kerhof, In New York Voice.
Without the general cultivation of the muscu-
lar system BY invieorating the frame, and more
especially strengthening the particular muscles
through various exercises known by artist voice
teachers to be a part of the art Of good singing
and quite necessary for the proper presentation
of the roles sentiment sung, good singing
caunot be attained. woman who cannot look
a queen, who has not the step. carriage of head
and body is pitiable to look at when she assumes
the role of Semiramide. A rational being
should have trained her body as we'll as her
voice till they were A big voice in a
squeezed.up body Il only noisy-no true breadth
power there.
Tho very fact that theea women have no hest
taton sripping through q grand part with toes
turned in, or even knock kneed more than
one of the contraltos of the day have been COM
peed to show by reason of the male costume
each and all OF these physical determines find
counterpart, believe me, in their voices in the
rendering Of tho musical role they assume
The peasant and the uncutivated woman.
then. has her strength her desire to rise in life
and her awkwardness to set off against the COM
preston Of waist so common in young girls and
insisted by foolish mothers of the better class,
also dress makers as we'll as corset-mak ers, who
think they know Just how form ought to be
boxed, and SEQ to it that the majority of girls
and women get inside OF them. Your women
all wear boxes" said an observing Chinaman.
1t seems me if il were generally
cerstood by both men and women how nature
has designed her work, they would be more sat
this day forth that the soul. least that part
of it which controls the feu in song,
seated at this very junction of the upper and
lower body, and all that should awaken and in
terest in the music. to speak. were shut out
of doors by it; that all the muscles f1acciG,
as if pieces of tape. and are incapable of con-
Quoting the nerve glow to the voice by their I'M
natural IeebleDess-perhaps they might try to
abats the death-deang custom now so prevalent
among those who do not sing, well those
who do-at least try to. Till this disgusting
fas in han od all wi 1cr VIII of-
frontery their purely physical tones. naught of
soul in them. Hence tho horrid tremolo from
pressed larynx. animal to degree. but still,
through ignorance, supposed to be the exquisite
quality that vlbrates through the pure tone, ex-
pressive of soulful expression. Ignorance Is the
abettor OF bad art.
1t is obvious that the motions of the ribs must
meet great impediment by this construction. For
perfect respiration, such as il required for song;
these motions must be free and unrestrained.
All the art in the world all the voice methods
cannot get rid of this stumblin2 e block. In pro-
portion respiration is imDeded, the blood is
imperfectly vitalized. The most important
function of all to the singer is this very distri-
button of the vital fluids. The heart, too, be-
comes excited, the pulse accelerated. then pal
pitation is in time superadded. This tight
facing will explain nearly ali the fairting fits
the theatrical stage. Irritations arise and, in
time, fexure of the spine follows. The liver be-
comes partially detruded from the concavity of
the diaphragm, disturbing their functions. The
whole body has passed away from the control of
nature and her true laws a condition of de-
pravlty that IS none the less fearful because I'M
detected in its slow and insidious process. which
alteration from sound principle effects its raw
ages until it be seen in the countenance.
From these beginnings come curvatures. droop-
ing to side the other of the shoulders,
short coughs. etc. And yet we who teach must
undo all this infringement of natures laws in
the foolish ones, and teach them proper respira-
ton before we place the voice under proper
control of the will and perfect automatic action.
The knowledge of the organs of the voice above
the chest is useless unless we understand the
laws of respiration below it. I speak principally
of women; but there many who are no
better breathers than women, notably the clergy
and lawyers.